Archive for the ‘Remodel Information’ Category

Kitchens typically contain lots of stuff. Not only that, but kitchen items are often oddly shaped and require a lot of space, such as food processors or stand mixers. Finding a home for your kitchen stuff while keeping it easily accessible can be a tricky proposition. Because built-ins are expensive and the overall size of the area you’re working with may be limited, one big design mistake is not including enough storage.

Almost every kitchen design has wasted space, but this can be minimized with adequate planning and forethought. If the kitchen is small, consider installing extra-long upper cabinets with molding for extra storage space. Place lighting or greenery along the molding to draw the eyes up. Also remember to always install cabinets over the refrigerator. Not to fully utilize the space above the refrigerator is a waste of potential storage space for large or seasonal kitchen items. Install shelves across the backs of the lower kitchen cabinet, which can preserve about 4 square feet potential storage area. Otherwise, the kitchen will feel smaller than it is because you will constantly be trying to find more storage space.

Most clients approach the remodeling process with some sort of budget in mind or at least a maximum expenditure that they don’t want to go over.

During the design process, it is the responsibility of the design and remodeling contractor to develop a plan that meets the client’s design expectation and stays within a realistic budget. This is not always as easy as it seems. There are always surprises with any remodeling project such as the discovery of mold or faulty electrical wiring that needs to be redone. Additionally, a client’s vision of the project might not always fit within their budget. For instance, certain high-end finishes such as rare tiles or custom cabinets can raise the overall price of the project.

The design and remodeling consultant must be honest with the client. It is up to the remodeler to let clients know what is possible within their stated budget, or how much certain demands will add to the cost of the project.

In this economy, design and remodel firms are under a lot of pressure to tell clients exactly what they want to hear. Some companies lowball a client with an initial price quote for a job and then add incremental costs throughout the project.

As a client, be wary if you receive multiple project quotes and one seems too good to be true. While it may be tempting to pick the lowest offer, it might not actually turn out to be the best value in the long run. I highly recommend that you seek a remodeler who is honest and will be upfront about the cost of your project. This firm should speak with you extensively about the project before determining a quote and should be able to explain costs when asked.

Also, remember that cost is only one factor you should take into consideration when choosing a design and remodeling contractor. It’s also important that the contractor is a good fit for your project and your personality.

If you are confused about varied quotes for your remodeling project, we’d like to help.K B Design and Remodeling provides a free service where we evaluate different quotes and determine which is truly the best option for your project.

With all my years in the remodeling industry, I’ve come across plenty of different reasons why clients ultimately decide to remodel their kitchen. That said, most of the reasons fall into three main categories. Keep reading. Do any of these problems apply to your kitchen? If so, we’re only a phone call away!

Too Small

Families grow. Aging parents are brought in. Children move back after college. Or maybe you just want to be able to entertain more. Whatever the reason, things are getting cramped. A kitchen expansion is in order, and a remodeling contractor can help you expand your kitchen to fit the dimensions of your life.

Not Functional

Every home has a different traffic pattern. Maybe your kitchen causes regular daily pile ups, or you hate where the drawers or cabinets are. If navigating your kitchen causes a serious spike in blood pressure, it might be time for a kitchen overhaul where you work directly with a designer/contractor to rebuild your personalized kitchen space.

Outdated

If you’ve been living in your house for a long time (say, a decade or so), you might start questioning the lava lamps and shag carpeting. Not only is your kitchen out of date, but it may suffer from the wear and tear that happens to every room over time. Handles break, wood rots, hinges squeak, etc… It’s probably time for a standard remodel, which can include buying new and efficient appliances, refinishing cabinets, or replacing cabinets and putting in new counter finishes, faucets and handles, floorings and adding a fresh coat of paint to the walls. In a short amount of time, your kitchen will seem brand new again.

If your kitchen suffers from any of these issues, you might be due for a remodel.

So there you have it folks. In a nutshell of six blogs, I’ve reviewed the major categories of a kitchen remodel and included general pricing for each category.

I hope that this special series has been helpful to you as you start planning your own kitchen remodel. Remember, we can help! K B Design and Remodeling serves the San Diego area and has nearly 30 years of experience remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. This means we can provide you with honest answers to your remodeling questions and offer quality design solutions and cost saving tips for your remodel.

We also provide a free in-home consultation, which can be very educational and illuminating, especially if this is your first remodel. We pride ourselves on our professionalism and the quality of the work we do. We’d love to show you first-hand what we can do for you , which is why we offer all new clients a $500 discount on their design services to get their remodeling project started.

The highest level of a kitchen remodel requires space alterations. This type of remodel includes many of the components of the “New Kitchen Layout” remodel as well as a physical expansion of the kitchen itself. Most clients seeking this type of remodel will want new flooring, cabinets, countertops, appliances and a complete makeover of aesthetic design. As you can imagine, a project of this breadth will require additional work effort, time and expense.

Most clients who choose a kitchen expansion remodel do so because they really enjoy using their kitchen and have a long-term mindset when it comes to investing in their home. They recognize that a kitchen expansion will not only enrich their lifestyle and the pleasure they get from their home, but that the money they put into the kitchen remodel is likely to come back to them when it comes time to sell the house.

K B Design and Remodeling recently finished such a project. The client loved to entertain, and he wanted more storage and countertop prep area, but with only 29LF of kitchen space, his kitchen was very disfuntional and did not come close to meeting his needs or lifestyle. We rearranged walls, relocated the sink and refrigerator, removed a window, and altered the patio door. The resulting 51LF kitchen provided our happy client with a dramatic improvement in the size, shape, functionality and look of his kitchen. Tour this project.

Pricing for a kitchen expansion varies too much to provide even an approximate price range. Sometimes you can add as little as $5K to $20K to the cost of an average kitchen remodel for your home. Often this extra cost can pay sincere dividends in the improved lifestyle and enhanced overall value of the home. If you are truly interested in learning how much a kitchen expansion will cost for your home, give us a call. We provide a free initial consultation, where we can discuss your vision and give you an idea of how long it will take and how much it will cost.